Designing toy

ABSTRACT

A mechanized drawing device which includes a frame on which is mounted a plurality of power-operated movable members such as a pair of wheels for moving the frame about a marking surface. A battery-operated motor is mounted on the frame to rotate the wheels and move the frame in a given direction or path. A camoperated device is driven by the motor and is associated with one of the wheels to intermittently render that wheel inoperative whereby the frame will intermittently pivot about that wheel to move the frame out of the given direction of travel. A marking member is mounted on the frame to trace the pattern of movement of the frame on the marking surface. The cam device is readily replaceable by other cams having different configurations so as to provide for varying tracing patterns.

United States Patent Barlow et al.

Feb. 1, 1972 [54] DESIGNING TOY [72] Inventors: Gordon A. Barlow,Evanston; lurton C. Meyer; Marvin 1. Glass, both of Chicago, all of ill.

[73], Assignee: Marvin Glsslz Amciates 221 Filed: Aug. 11,1969

[2|] Appl.No.: 848,856

[52] U.S.Cl. ..33l18R [51] Int.Cl ..B43113/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..33/l8R, 23C, 27 L;ll8/207, 118/305; 346/8; 35/102 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,179,663 11/1939 Link, Jr. ..33/l8 2,590,7553/1952 Cloud ..346/8 2,751,273 6/1956 Rankin ..346/8 PrimaryExaminer-Leonard Forrnan Assistant Examiner-Charles E. PhillipaAttorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [57] ABSTRACT Amechanized drawing device which includes a frame on which is mounted aplurality of power-operated movable members such as a pair of wheels formoving the frame about a marking surface. A battery-operated motor ismounted on the frame to rotate the wheels and move the frame in a givendirection or path. A cam-operated device is driven by the motor and isassociated with one of the wheels to intermittently render that wheelinoperative whereby the frame will intermittently pivot about that wheelto move the frame out of the given direction of travel. A marking memberis mounted on the frame to trace the pattern of movement of the frame onthe marking surface. The cam device is readily replaceable by other camshaving different configurations so as to provide for varying tracingpatterns.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAATENTEDFEBI m2 $638,319

saw 1 or 3 INVENTOQS MAW/W 61466 ATTORN EYS 1 DESIGNING Tov BACKGROUNDAND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a self-containedmechanized designing toy or drawing device.

- Various manual drawing devices presently are available and include apositioning frame which has a marking surface or an area for receivingmaterials such as paper or-the like which have marking surfaces, anda'variety of stencillike members, such as perforated guide bars orrings, are provided for. movement within the frame or guide means with apencil or like marking device to.trace various patterns on the markingsurface. The devices normally draw concentric rectangular, spiral, orcircular patterns on the surface by manual manipulation of a pencil orlike marking device guided by the perforated bars or rings. The presentinvention is designed to provide a power operated o. mechanizeddesigning toy for drawing a predetermined pattern on a marking surface,and the device has means facilitating selection of various patterns tobe traced thereby.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide amechanized drawing device of the character described and, particularly,one which includes a frame power-motive means for moving the frame over,a marking surface in a given direction or path, interrupting meansassociated with the power-motive means for intermittently moving atleasta portion of the frame out of the given path or to change thedirection or path, and marking means mounted on at least the aforesaidportion of the frame to trace the pattern of movement of that portiononto the marking surface. In the embodiment illustrated herein, thepower-motive means moves the frame in a generally straight path and theinterrupting means is operative to permit intermittent movement, atequal intervals,

of said portion of the frame out of the given path in a different butconstantly the same direction so as to trace a concentric pattern.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drawing device as setforth in the preceding paragraph in which the interrupting means may bechanged selectively to vary either the interval or duration, or both, ofthe interrupting function thereof thereby to permit varying the pattern.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drawing device of thecharacter described inwhich the power-motive means includes a pluralityof movable members mounted on the frame for powered movement over themarking surface and all of the members cooperating to move theframe inthe given direction or path of travel. The interrupting means isoperative to intermittently render at least one but not all of themovable members inoperative to move at least a portion of the frameintermittently out of the given directionof travel. The marking means ismounted on at least that portion of the frame. In the embodimentillustrated herein, the movable members comprise a pair of generallyparallel wheels mounted on the lower portions of the frame for poweredmovement over the marking surface and the interrupting means isoperative to intermittently raise one of the wheels out of engagementwith the surface whereby the frame intermittently pivots thereabout.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a drawing device asset forth in the preceding paragraph wherein terrupting means includes ajack member mounted frame adjacent one of the wheels and a cam disc isro mounted on the frame adjacent the jack member for rot about agenerally horizontal axis, with thejf p 'phery-df the cam disc engagingthe jack member on the low 1 side thereof. The periphery of the cam dischas a plurality rises and falls to bias the jack member intermittentlyinto and out of engagement with the marking surface to raise andlowerthe wheel. The cam discs are releasably mounted on the frame to permitreplacement thereof by cam discs having'different cam patterns to effectvarying patterns.

The drawing device disclosed and claimed herein is aselfcontained unitwhich utilizes a battery operated motor for rotating the wheels orsimilar movable members and for rotating the cam disc to effect movementof the jack member. Means are provided on the frame to define aplurality of positions for receiving one or a plurality of marking meanssuch as pencils, felt or ball point pens, or the like.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of themechanized drawing device of this invention, along with a plurality ofmarking pens and cam discs;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section, partially broken away and on an enlargedscale, taken generally in the direction of line 22 of FIG. 1;

- FIG. 3 is a vertical section, partially broken away and on an enlargedscale, taken-generally in the direction of line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 4 4 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 isa partial elevational view, partially broken away, takengenerally in the direction of line 5-5 in FIG. 3, and showing theinterrupting means of this invention in various positions; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a drawn pattern at the left in FIG. 6as effected by a cam disc having the shape shown at the right in FIG.-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFTHE INVENTION The drawing device of thisinvention is shown herein as incorporated in a self-containedpoweroperated mechanized unit which is designed to ride overand upon amarking surface to draw patterns on that surface corresponding to thepath of movement of at least a portion of the device and having meanspermitting the user to selectively change the path of movement of thedevice. For illustration purposes, the device is shown in the form orconfiguration of a mechanical man which moves over the drawing surface,allof which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, themechanized drawingdevice of the present invention, generally designated 10, includes agenerally hollow frame havinga head portion I2, a body portion 14 and apair of hand or arm portions 16. The hand or arm portions 16 each-have avertical cylindrical sleeve portion '18 which receives and holds markingmeans such as pencil or felt or ballpoint pen 20 to move the markingmeans or pen over a marking surface 22 to draw the pattern of movementof thatportion of the frame on which the pen is mounted as the 'framemoves over the marking surface by power-motive means described below. Inaddition to the hand or arm portions 16, a plurality of outwardlyprojecting boss portions v24 may be formed on the body portion 14 of theframe, with vertical cylindrical bores 26-formed in the boss portions 24to receive additional marking pens to enhance-the capability of thedevice to draw a wide variety of patterns on the marking surface 22. Asseen in FIG. 1, marking pens 20 may have washerlike members 28positioned thereabout to seat on top of the sleeveportions 18 or theboss portions 24 to prevent the marking pens from falling therethroughshould the device be lifted off of the marking surface 22.

A power-motive'means is provided to move the frame and marking, pensoverthe marking surface in a predetermined pattern and includes abattery operated conventional motor 30 (FIGS.v 2'and 3) which works offof a pair of dry-cell batteries 32 (FIG. 4). To facilitate aself-contained unit, preferably both the motor 30 and the batteries 32are disposed within the hollow head and body portions 12 and 14,respectively. A pair of spaced, generally parallel rubber-treaded wheels34 are mounted on the lower body portion 14 of the frame on an axle 36for powered movement over the marking surface 22 by the motor 30 througha gear train, generally designated 38. The

gear train 38 includes a gear member 38a at one end thereof connected tothe wheel axle 36 and a gear member 38b at the other end of the trainconnected to a drive shaft 40 from the motor 30. The gear train 38 is areduction means between the motor 30 and the wheel axle 36. Referring toFIGS. 2 and 4, a stabilizing member 42 depends from the rear of the bodyportion 14 of the frame whereby the device rests on the marking surface22 by the two wheels 34 and the stabilizer member 42 in a tripodfashion. The motor 30 is operative to rotate the wheels 34 in thedirection of arrow A (FIG. 4) to move the device in a generally straightpath, generally in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 4). A switch having alever 41 extending from the top of the device actuates motor 30.

An interrupting means is associated with the power-motive means (motor30, wheels 34, etc.) for intermittently changing direction of the deviceor moving at least a portion of the device out of the straight-linedirection or path of movement. The interrupting means includes a jackmember 43 (as best illustrated in F IG. pivotally mounted at point 44 onthe body portion 14 of the frame adjacent one of the wheels 34 (theright-hand wheel as viewed in FIGS. 1 through 3). The jack member 43 hasa downwardly depending portion 46 which engages the marking surface 22and an upwardly extending cam follower portion 48 which engages theperiphery of cam disc 50 which is rotated by motor 30 through the geartrain 38, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The cam disc 50 is slidablymounted on the end of a shaft 52 which has a gear member 54 fixedthereto and in operative engagement with a gear member 56in the geartrain 38. As best seen by the cam discs shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, each camdisc has a plurality of rises and falls about the periphery thereof onwhich ride the cam follower 48 fixed to the top of the jack member 43.As a rise on the periphery of the cam disc 50 rotates into engagementwith the cam follower 48, the rise biases the jack member 43 downwardlyto the position shown in FIG. 5 in full line. In that position, cam disc50 has lifted the adjacent wheel 34 off of the marking surface 22whereby the device is caused to pivot about about the depending potion46 of the jack member 43 as the opposite wheel continues to rotate andas the cam disc 50 continues to rotate until the cam follower reaches alower point on the periphery of the cam disc to lower the adjacent wheel34 back into engagement with the marking surface 22. The device thenwill resume its given direction or path of travel, a straight pathherein.

HO. 6 shows by way of example one pattern which is drawn by theparticular cam disc 50 shown therein by using the device of the presentinvention. That pattern is formed by using a single marking pen 20. Byusing additional marking pens, still further patterns are formed byusing a single cam disc 50.

An important feature of the instant invention is the replaceability ofthe cam discs 50 to permit selection of an experimentation with variouspatterns. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive-shaft member 52 for thecam discs 50 has an irregularly shaped end 60, such as a hexagonalshape, which slidably receives the cam discs 50, each of which has acomplementary bore or recess. Each disc has a handle portion 62 tofacilitate shows in phantom a raised or upwardly pivoted position of theretaining member 64 to facilitate access to the cam disc 50 and topermit the cam disc to be slidably removed from the end 60 of the driveshaft 52. When a cam disc is properly placed on the shaft 52, theretaining member 64 is lowered by gravity so that an annular housingportion 64a seats over the cam disc 50 and prevent the cam disc fromsliding off of its drive shaft 52.

' The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no. unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

We claim: t l. A mechanized drawmg device comprrsmg, a frame, a pair ofparallel wheels mounted on said frame in position to engage a supportingsurface, powered driving means carried by said frame and connected withsaid wheels for effecting rotation thereof, interrupting means mountedon said frame for predetermined movement relative thereto, saidinterrupting means being connected with said driving means for operationthereby to intermittently engage the support surface to elevate one ofsaid wheels ofi the surface and thereby provide a pivot for said deviceand effect a change in the direction of its movement, and marking meansmounted on said frame in position to engage said support surface tothereby draw a pattern of the movement of said device relative to thesupport surface.

2. A mechanized drawing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidinterrupting means is connected with said driving means through meansincluding a removable cam disc.

3. A mechanized drawing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidpowered driving means includes a batterypowered motor.

4. A mechanized drawing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidmarking means includes a plurality of removable markers mounted on saidframe at spaced-apart positions thereon.

5. The drawing device of claim 1 wherein said interrupting meansincludes a jack member and a cam disc rotatably mounted adjacent saidjack member on a generally horizontal axis with the periphery of the camdisc engaging the jack member, the periphery of said cam disc having aplurality of rises and falls to intermittently bias the jack member intoand out of engagement with said surface.

6. The drawing device of claim 5 including means releasably mountingsaid cam disc on said frame to permit replacement by cam discs havingdifferent cam patterns to effect different patterns.

7. The drawing device of claim 6 wherein said wheels are continuouslypower rotated, and said interrupting means includes means forintermittently raising said one wheel out of engagement with saidsurface.

1. A mechanized drawing device comprising, a frame, a pair of parallelwheels mounted on said frame in position to engage a supporting surface,powered driving means carried by said frame and connected with saidwheels for effecting rotation thereof, interrupting means mounted onsaid frame for predetermined movement relative thereto, saidinterrupting means being connected with said driving means for operationthereby to intermittently engage the support surface to elevate one ofsaid wheels off the surface and thereby provide a pivot for said deviceand effect a change in the direction of its movement, and marking meansmounted on said frame in position to engage said support surface tothereby draw a pattern of the movement of said device relative to thesupport surface.
 2. A mechanized drawing device as set forth in claim 1,wherein said interrupting means is connected with said driving meansthrough means including a removable cam disc.
 3. A mechanized drawingdevice as set forth in claim 1, wherein said powered driving meansincludes a battery-powered motor.
 4. A mechanized drawing device as setforth in claim 1 wherein said marking means includes a plurality ofremovable markers mounted on said frame at spaced-apart positionsthereon.
 5. The drawing device of claim 1 wherein said interruptingmeans includes a jack member and a cam disc rotatably mounted adjacentsaid jack member on a generally horizontal axis with the periphery ofthe cam disc engaging the jack member, the periphery of said cam dischaving a plurality of rises and falls to intermittently bias the jackmember into and out of engagement with said surface.
 6. The drawingdevice of claim 5 including means releasably mounting said cam disc onsaid frame to permit replacement by cam discs having different campatterns to effect different patterns.
 7. The drawing device of claim 6wherein said wheels are continuously power rotated, and saidinterrupting means includes means for intermittently raising said onewheel out of engagement with said surface.